Single to two point tactical sling

ABSTRACT

Provided is a sling for coupling a weapon to a user of the weapon. The sling includes a strap, and a weapon connector that cooperates with a fastening feature provided to the weapon to releasably couple the weapon to the strap. A first connector is coupled to the strap, as is a second connector, which is coupled to a different portion of the strap. The second connector is separated from the first connector along the sling by at least a portion of the strap. The first and second connectors cooperate to establish a connection and form a loop that extends about a portion of the user of the weapon. The sling also includes a rapid sizing adjuster coupled to the strap. The rapid sizing adjuster is adjustable by the user of the weapon to quickly establish a desired length of the sling in a single motion while the sling is coupling the weapon to the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This application relates generally to a sling for coupling a weapon to aperson and, more specifically, to a tactical sling that couples afirearm to a person and is adjustable between a single-pointconfiguration and a multiple-point configuration.

2. Description of Related Art

Traditionally, slings for coupling a weapon such as a firearm to aperson have been configured as either a two-point sling or asingle-point sling. Traditional two-point slings have commonly includeda length of material extending between a pair of fasteners. A firstfastener at one end of the material cooperates with a forward portion ofthe firearm, adjacent to a barrel of the firearm for example. A secondfastener at the other end of the material, opposite the end with thefirst fastener, includes a second fastener that cooperates with arearward portion of the firearm, such as the stock. With the twofasteners at opposite ends of the material cooperating with the firearm,the length of material could be draped over the person's shoulder, neck,or other body part to suspend the firearm from that person.

Traditional two-point slings allow the firearm suspended from the personto be quickly removed, and allow for a wide range of movement of thefirearm on the person. Two-point slings also maintain the firearm at anelevation above the person's legs, allowing the person wearing the slingto walk or even run without kicking the firearm. However, two-pointslings also typically suspend the firearm only in asubstantially-horizontal orientation, which may be undesirable forcertain tactical situations requiring the person to navigate narrowspaces with a long firearm.

As the name suggests, traditional single-point slings have commonlyincluded only a single fastener that connects the firearm to the slingat a single location on the firearm at any given time. The length ofmaterial attached to the single fastener of a single-point slingtypically forms a loop that extends around the upper torso (usually overone shoulder and under the other) of a person wearing the sling. Sincethe single-point sling is attached to the firearm at only a singlelocation, the firearm is allowed to dangle in a substantially-verticalorientation from the person wearing the sling. This vertical orientationof the firearm allows the person to navigate narrow walkways andpositions the firearm out of the way of the person wearing the sling.However, it may be cumbersome to walk with the firearm in the verticalorientation since the firearm will often extend down significantly alongthe person's legs.

Thus, there are times when a two-point sling is convenient and othertimes when a single-point sling is convenient. However, in tacticalapplications the person who is to wear the sling is often required towalk long distances, or repel from or climb up vertical obstaclescarrying various tactical gear. Under such circumstances it is desirablefor the person to travel light, making it impractical to carry bothslings. But even if the person is carrying both the two-point andsingle-point slings, tactical operations often require the personwearing the sling to react quickly to a potential threat or a change inenvironment. Under such circumstances there will probably be aninsufficient amount of time available for the person to change to thesling most appropriate for the given environment.

But regardless of whether a sling is a two-point or a single-pointsling, conventional slings have traditionally included limitedadjustment options for adjusting a length of the sling to fit people ofvarious sizes. One such adjustment feature has typically included astrap doubled over onto itself through a slide lock adjuster. Adjustingthe length of the sling using such an adjustment feature requires theperson wearing the sling to remove it and manually feed a length of thematerial through the adjuster, followed by the second step of pullingthe other portion of the material doubled over onto the newly-fedmaterial through the adjuster. Such an adjustment is time consuming andtedious, requiring a high degree of dexterity in the person's hands. Fortactical applications, a rapid adjustment may be required in less timethan required for manual adjustment of a conventional slide lockadjuster through which the sling material extends and is doubled back onitself for another pass through the slide lock.

BRIEF SUMMARY

According to one aspect, the subject application involves a sling forcoupling a weapon to a user of the weapon. The sling includes a straphaving a length suitable to extend around at least a portion of the userwhen the sling couples the weapon to the user, and a weapon connectorthat cooperates with a fastening feature provided to the weapon toreleasably couple the weapon to the strap. A first connector is coupledto the strap, as is a second connector, which is coupled to a differentportion of the strap. The second connector is separated from the firstconnector along the sling by at least a portion of the strap. The firstand second connectors cooperate to establish a connection and form aloop that extends about a portion of the user of the weapon. The slingalso includes a rapid sizing adjuster coupled to the strap. The rapidsizing adjuster is adjustable by the user of the weapon to quicklyestablish a desired length of the sling in a single motion while thesling is coupling the weapon to the user.

According to another aspect, the subject application involves a slingfor coupling a weapon to a user of the weapon. The sling includes astrap formed from a plurality strap segments and having a lengthsuitable to extend around at least a portion of the user when the slingcouples the weapon to the user. A portion of the strap supports asubstantially-elastic material that is extendable to temporarilyelongate the sling from an unbiased length to an elongated length in asubstantially elastic manner. A first connector is coupled to the strapadjacent a first end of the strap, and a hooked connector is coupled tothe strap adjacent to a second end of the strap. The hooked connectorcooperates with the first connector to configure the strap into a loopthat extends about the portion of the user of the weapon wearing thesling. The sling also includes a weapon connector that cooperates with arearward connector provided to a relatively rearward portion of theweapon to couple the weapon to the sling. A coupler releasably couplesthe weapon connector to the strap externally of the loop, allowing theweapon connector to extend away from the loop established by cooperationbetween the first connector and the hooked connector. The sling alsoincludes a rapid sizing adjuster coupled to the strap between the firstand hooked connectors to adjust a length of one of the plurality ofstrap segments that extends between the hooked connector and the portionof the strap enclosing the substantially-elastic material. The rapidsizing adjuster includes a quick adjust buckle slidably coupled to thestrap to travel along a portion of the strap, and a handle coupled tothe quick adjust buckle to be grasped for adjusting the length of one ofthe plurality of strap segments. The handle comprises a portion defininga portion of an aperture, the portion being separated at least one (1in.) inch from the quick adjust buckle.

The above summary presents a simplified summary in order to provide abasic understanding of some aspects of the systems and/or methodsdiscussed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of thesystems and/or methods discussed herein. It is not intended to identifykey/critical elements or to delineate the scope of such systems and/ormethods. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplifiedform as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presentedlater.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in thisspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form apart hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a sling according to anaspect of the present technology;

FIG. 2a shows a weapon coupled to a user by a sling in a single-pointconfiguration;

FIG. 2b shows a weapon coupled to a user by a sling in a two-pointconfiguration;

FIG. 3 shows an illustrative embodiment of a slide lock buckle that canbe used as a connector between strap segments;

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the slide lock buckle taken alongline 4-4 in FIG. 3, a similar cross-sectional view of the slide lockembodiment of the connector 50 provided to a strap segment, and multiplepasses of the strap segment extending between the slide lock buckles;

FIG. 5 shows an illustrative embodiment of a first connector includingtwo apertures formed in a metallic plate for coupling the metallic plateto a strap, and a generally D-shaped aperture for cooperating with asecond connector to establish a loop configuration of the strap;

FIG. 6 shows an illustrative embodiment of a second connector in theform of a snap hook;

FIG. 7 shows an illustrative embodiment of a second connector in theform of a push button swivel;

FIG. 8 shows an illustrative embodiment of a second connector in theform of a mash hook;

FIG. 9 shows a bottom view of an illustrative embodiment of a quickadjust buckle included as part of a rapid sizing adjuster; and

FIG. 10 shows an end view of a quick adjust buckle and handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain terminology is used herein for convenience only and is not to betaken as a limitation on the present invention. Relative language usedherein is best understood with reference to the drawings, in which likenumerals are used to identify like or similar items. Further, in thedrawings, certain features may be shown in somewhat schematic form.

It is also to be noted that the phrase “at least one of”, if usedherein, followed by a plurality of members herein means one of themembers, or a combination of more than one of the members. For example,the phrase “at least one of a first widget and a second widget” means inthe present application: the first widget, the second widget, or thefirst widget and the second widget. Likewise, “at least one of a firstwidget, a second widget and a third widget” means in the presentapplication: the first widget, the second widget, the third widget, thefirst widget and the second widget, the first widget and the thirdwidget, the second widget and the third widget, or the first widget andthe second widget and the third widget.

FIG. 1 shows an illustrative embodiment of a sling 10 for coupling aweapon to a user of the weapon. The weapon can be any type of weaponincluding long guns such as rifles, shotguns and the like, or any otherelongated weapon that is desired to be suspended from the user in aplurality of different orientations. For the sake of brevity, however,and to clearly describe the sling, the illustrative embodiments setforth in detail below will describe the sling 10 as being used tosuspend a rifle from the user in a single-point configuration and in atwo-point configuration.

In the single-point configuration, one portion of the sling 10 iscoupled to another portion of the sling 10 as described below to form aloop 12 that extends around an upper torso portion of the user 14 asshown in FIG. 2a . An extension 20 supporting a weapon connector 16(FIG. 1) extends in an outward direction, generally away from the loop12 to allow the weapon connector 16 to cooperate with a compatiblefastening feature provided to a relatively-rearward portion of the rifle18 (e.g., adjacent to a stock 17 of the rifle 18). Thus, in thesingle-point configuration, the weapon connector 16 is the soleconnection point between the rifle 18 and the sling 10. The sling 10, inthe single-point configuration, allows the rifle 18 to dangle high onthe user 14 from the weapon connector 16, optionally with the muzzle 24pointed in a downward direction toward the ground.

In the two-point configuration, shown in FIG. 2b , the portion of thesling 10 coupled to the other portion of the sling to form the loop 12in the single-point configuration is, instead, coupled to arelatively-forward portion of the rifle 18 (e.g., closer to the muzzle24 than the fastening feature provided adjacent to the stock 17). Asecond connector, which can optionally be the same connector used tocouple the portions of the sling 10 together to form the loop 12 in thesingle-point configuration, can optionally cooperate with a forwardfastening feature provided to the rifle 18 at this relatively-forwardportion of the rifle 18. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, thisconnector is a snap hook 26. According to alternate embodiments, asecond weapon connector 22, different from the snap hook 26 utilized inFIG. 1 to form the loop 12, can be coupled to the snap hook 26 forcooperating with the forward fastening feature of the rifle 18. For theembodiment shown in FIG. 1, both the weapon connector 16 and the secondweapon connector 22 are so-called push-button swivels described indetail below. Regardless of the connector coupled to therelatively-forward position of the rifle 18 with the sling 10 in thetwo-point configuration, the rifle 18 is coupled to the sling 10 at twolocations, and can optionally be suspended from the user 14 in asubstantially-horizontal orientation, or optionally more horizontallythan when suspended via the single-point configuration.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, a strap 28 is formed from a plurality ofseparate strap segments 28 a, 28 b, 28 c that collectively have a lengthsuitable to extend around at least a portion of the user 14 and couplethe rifle 18 to the user 14. The strap segments 28 a, 28 b, 28 c caneach be formed of any desired material with a sufficient tensilestrength to couple the rifle 18 to the user 14 without breaking. Forexample, one (1 in.) inch tubular webbing made from nylon or othersuitable material can be used as the strap material. According toalternate embodiments, a portion of the strap 28, such as the segment 28b that extends over a shoulder of the user 14 wearing the sling 10 forexample, can optionally be formed from a larger dimensional tubing suchas tubing having a transverse dimension of two (2 in.) inches formedfrom tubular nylon webbing, for example. The added size of the strapsegment 28 b can help distribute the weight of a heavy weapon over agreater area than the strap segment 28 b formed from the one (1 in.)inch tubular nylon webbing. For such embodiments, other strap segments28 a, 28 c can optionally be formed form the smaller-dimension tubularnylon webbing.

A portion of the strap 28, such as strap segment 28 b for example, canoptionally support a length of substantially-elastic material 30 (shownin the encircled region 32 where the strap material has been cut away),such as bungee cord for example. For embodiments utilizing a tubularstrap material, the bungee cord or other substantially-elastic material30 can optionally be enclosed, or partially enclosed within the tubularstrap material. For such embodiments, the length of the tubular strapmaterial enclosing the substantially-elastic material 30 can be longerthan the substantially-elastic material 30 to allow the relativelynon-stretchable strap material to elongate with thesubstantially-elastic material 30 when a tensile or other stretchingforce is applied to the strap segment 28. The excess tubular strapmaterial provided to strap segment 28 is bunched up along the length ofthe substantially-elastic material 30, forming ripples 34 in the strapmaterial. Such embodiments allow for temporary elongation of the strap28 from an unbiased length to an elongated length in asubstantially-elastic manner when subjected to a tensile or otherstretching force.

For other embodiments, however, the substantially-elastic material 30can optionally be disposed between two of the strap segments 28 a, 28 b,28 c or otherwise coupled to the strap 28 to allow for temporaryelongation of the strap 28 from an unbiased length to an elongatedlength in a substantially-elastic manner when subjected to a tensile orother stretching force.

The strap segments 28 a, 28 b, 28 c are coupled together by connectors36, 38 that each allow the strap segments to be adjusted lengthwise(i.e., along their longitudinal axis) relative to each other. Forexample, the connector 36 can include a so-called “slide lock” bucklesuch as that shown in FIG. 3. The embodiment of the connector 36 shownin FIG. 3 allows an end of the strap segment 28 a to be inserted throughthe aperture 42 and wrapped around an end leg 40 before being foldedback on itself and sewn together, thereby coupling the strap segment 28a to the slide lock embodiment of the connector 36. The middle leg 44and other end leg 46 of the slide lock embodiment of the connector 36allow a plurality of passes of the strap segment to extend through theapertures 42, 48 as described below with reference to FIG. 4 to providethe sling 28 with an enhanced adjustment range with a minimal storage ofexcess strap material.

A second slide lock or other suitable connector 50, shown in FIG. 1, canbe provided along the length of strap segment 28 b, such as between theportion supporting the substantially-elastic material 30 and theconnector 36 for example. The connectors 36, 50 cooperate with the strapmaterial of strap segments 28 a, 28 b to form an adjustment region alongthe sling 10 to allow for rough adjustment of the length of the strap 28prior to deployment of the sling 10. FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional viewof the slide lock embodiment of the connector 36 taken along line 4-4 inFIG. 3, and a similar cross-sectional view of the slide lock embodimentof the connector 50 appearing in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 also shows three passes52 of the strap segment 28 b extending between slide lock buckleembodiments of connectors 36, 50, and strap segment 28 a coupled toslide lock connector 36. Strap segment 28 a can be wrapped around theend leg 40 of the connector 36 and folded back onto itself, and sewn orotherwise secured in place to couple the strap segment 28 a at a fixedlength to the connector 36.

Users who wear the sling 10 in tactical situations desire to minimizethe amount of freely-hanging strap material, and loops of excess strapmaterial that allow for adjustment of the length of the strap 28. Suchobjects can get tangled with the rifle or other gear worn by the user,or catch on a door knob or other projection, thereby negativelyaffecting the mobility of the user 14. By storing strap material thathas not been dispensed to contribute to the length of the strap 28 inthree or more passes 52, the size of loops formed by each pass 52 can beminimized to limit the possibility that such material can extend farenough from the user and get caught on the user's gear, a door knob orother obstacle at an inopportune time.

For example, every inch of the strap material included in strap segment28 b that is taken in from outside the connector 50 and added to thepasses can be divided equally amongst the passes. Thus, to remove thatinch of strap material from the length of strap segment 28 b, thedistance between the connectors 36, 50 spanned by the passes 52increases only one-third (⅓ in.) of an inch. Thus, by employing at leastthree (3) passes between the connectors 36, 50, the passes 52 remainreasonably sized, thereby minimizing the possibility that the passes 52will get caught on an obstacle and interfere with the user's mobility.Further, enough strap material can be distributed amongst the passes 52to provide the sling 10 with a suitable adjustment range.

To facilitate conversion of the sling 10 between single and two-pointconfigurations, a first connector 54 is shown in FIG. 1 coupled to thestrap segment 28 a adjacent a first end if the strap 28. For theembodiment show, the strap segment 28 a is coupled to the connector 36at one end and to a coupler 56 at an opposite end. The embodiment of thefirst connector 54 shown in FIG. 5 includes two apertures 58, 60 formedin a metallic plate 62, which also defines a generally D-shaped aperture64. It is to be understood that the generally D-shape of the aperture 64is described merely as an example, and that the aperture 64 can be ofany shape allowing cooperation with the snap hook 26 or other suitableconnector to form the strap 28 into a loop 12. Further, althoughdescribes as being metallic, the metallic plate 62 can be formed fromany suitably durable material, including but not limited to plastics andpolymeric materials, metals and metal alloys, and the like. The metallicplate 62 can optionally be substantially planar, including relativelylarge primary surfaces with greater surface area than minor surfacesforming the edge of the metallic plate 62 in a depth direction. Asshown, the D-shaped aperture 64 can be disposed at one lateral-end ofthe metallic plate 62, substantially in a common plane with the metallicplate 62, allowing the first connector 54 to rest flat against the userwearing the sling 10. Further, for such embodiments, the D-shapedaperture 64 remains in a substantially constant position known to theuser, allowing ready conversion of the sling 10 between single andtwo-point configurations. Alternate embodiments of the first connector54 can include a D-shaped aperture 64 formed at both lateral ends of themetallic plate 62 to create an ambidextrous sling 10, or provided solelyto the opposite end from that shown with the D-shaped aperture 64 inFIG. 5 to create a left handed sling 10.

The strap segment 28 a can extend through both apertures 58, 60 of themetallic plate 62 to couple the first connector 54 to the strap segment28 a, terminating in the coupler 56 that releasably couples the weaponconnector 16 to the strap 28. For the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, thecoupler includes a plurality of independent release mechanisms 66, shownas levers, that each require manual manipulation, and optionallysimultaneous manipulation, to release the weapon connector 16 from thestrap 28, and accordingly, the sling 10. Each of the release mechanisms66 can optionally be spring biased toward a position at which therelease mechanisms 66 retain the weapon connector 16 as part of thesling 10. Thus, if one release mechanism is inadvertently manipulated,it is unlikely that both can be simultaneously manipulated, resulting inseparation of the weapon connector 16 from the sling 10.

The levers forming the release mechanisms 66 in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1 can be operatively connected to one or more latches. Manipulatingthe release mechanisms 66 away from their retaining positions can openthe latch, thereby releasing the weapon connector 16. Further, theembodiment of the coupler 56 in FIG. 1 includes an all-metalconstruction to provide the sling with added durability and resistanceto wear from the elements that may not be afforded by lesser materials.However, alternate embodiments include a coupler 56 made of materialsother than metal, such as a plastic Classic SR Dual Adjust buckleoffered by ITW Nexus, for example.

The snap hook 26 or other connector employed as a second connector iscoupled to the strap 28 adjacent to a second end of the strap 28. Thesnap hook 26 is compatible to cooperate with an anchor point such as ametallic loop or other suitable anchor point at the relatively forwardportion of the rifle 18. Further, the snap hook 26 is also compatible toclip onto the portion of the first connector 54 defining a portion ofthe D-shaped aperture 64 or other connection feature to configure thestrap into a loop 12 that extends about the portion of the user wearingthe sling 10. Thus, the snap hook 26 can optionally be interchangeablyconnected to both the fastening feature of the rifle 18 and the firstconnector 54. For such embodiments, if compatibility with differentanchor points possibly provided to the rifle is not a concern, the snaphook 26 may thus be both the second connector for establish the loopedconfiguration of the strap 28 and the second weapon connector 22. Inother words, only the snap hook 26 need be coupled adjacent the otherend of the strap 28 opposite the end provided with the first connector54.

According to alternate embodiments, the rifle 18 may be provided with afastening feature that is not compatible with the snap hook 26 toestablish the two-point configuration. However, to retain the ability toestablish the loop configuration of the strap 28, the snap hook 26 mayagain be coupled adjacent to the end of the strap 28 opposite the endprovided with the first connector 54. For the alternate embodiments,however, the second weapon connector 22, other than a snap hook 26, canalso be coupled adjacent to the end of the strap 28 opposite the endwith the first connector 54.

This second weapon connector 22 can be coupled to the strap 28 adjacentthe snap hook 26. Positioned as such, there is a possibility that thesnap hook 26 and second weapon connector 22 can make contact with eachother, thereby emitting possibly unwanted noises that could potentiallygive away the position of the user wearing the sling 10. Again, intactical situations, such noises can affect the ability of the user tonavigate an area undetected. To minimize noises from contact between thesnap hook 26 and the second weapon connector 22, a silencer 68 can beprovided to interfere with the ability of the snap hook 26 and secondweapon connector 22 to make contact and emit unwanted noises as aresult. For example, one embodiment of the silencer 68 can include anadjustable sleeve formed from a material with a degree of elasticitythat allows the sleeve to be slid over at least one of the snap hook 26and the second weapon connector 22. According to alternate embodiments,the sleeve can be slid along the strap segment 28 c over the one of thesnap hook 26 and the second weapon connector 22 that is not in use tocouple the strap segment 28 c to another object such as the firstconnector 54 or the rifle 18. The sleeve, once in place, holds andmaintains a position of at least one of the second weapon connector 22and the snap hook 26 relative to each other to minimize contact betweenthe two.

Each of the weapon connectors 16, 22 can be independently selected to becompatible with the rifle to be used with the sling 10. However,specific examples of connectors that can be used as the weapon connectorinclude, but are not limited to: a push button swivel, a snap hook, anda mash hook. The snap hook, such as snap hook 26 appearing in FIG. 6 anddescribe above as the second connector, includes a hooked portion 70that partially defines an aperture 72 and clips onto the portion of themetallic plate 62 defining the D-shaped aperture 64, for example, or anyother compatible fastening feature. A leading end 74 of the snap hook 26extends into the D-shaped aperture 64 when the hooked portion 70 is inplace to cooperate with the first connector 54. A spring-biased gate 76is coupled to rotate about a pivot pin 78, and biased toward the closedposition by a spring. To disconnect the snap hook 26 from the firstconnector 54, for example, the gate 76 is urged inward in the directionof arrow 80 to pivot about the pivot pin 78, thereby opening theaperture 72 for removal of the snap hook 26 from the first connector 54.The strap material of the strap segment 28 c can be extended through anelongated transverse aperture 82, folded back onto itself and sewn inplace to couple the snap hook 26 to the strap segment 28 c.

An illustrative embodiment of a push button swivel 84 is shown in FIG.7. The push button swivel 84 includes a metallic, tubular barrel 86 fromwhich four, or other number of cams 88, protrude. The cams 88 are urgedoutwardly from within the barrel 86 in their natural state. To coupleand remove the push button swivel 84 to and from the compatiblefastening feature 90 provided to the rifle 18, a button 92 is manuallypressed to relieve the outward-biasing force on the cams 88, allowingthem to be at least partially retracted into the barrel 86 a sufficientdistance to allow the barrel 86 to enter/exit the fastening feature 90.With the barrel 86 inserted into the fastening feature 90, the buttoncan be released, once again restoring the biasing force on the cams 88,holding the push button swivel 84 in place. Similar to the snap hook 26,an elongated, transverse aperture 94 facilitates connection of the pushbutton swivel 84 to the strap material.

An illustrative embodiment of a mash hook 96 weapon connector is shownin FIG. 8. Like the snap hook 26, the mash hook 96 also includes ahooked portion 98 with a leading end 100 that extends into an apertureof a compatible fastening feature. Unlike the snap hook 26, however, themash hook 96 includes opposing hooked portions 98 that togetherinterfere with inadvertent removal of the mash hook 96 from the weaponinstead of the gate 76. To connect and remove the mash hook 96, theopposing hooks are separated by pressing on handles 102 and one of thehooked portions 98 is clipped onto the fastening feature, then thehandles 102 are released. Similar to the snap hook 26, an elongated,transverse aperture 104 facilitates connection of the mash hook 96 tothe strap material.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, the sling 10 also includes a rapidsizing adjuster 106 coupled along the strap 28 between the first andsecond connectors 54, 26 to adjust a length of one of the plurality ofstrap segments 28 a, 28 b, 28 c extending between the snap hook 26 andthe portion of the strap 28 supporting the substantially-elasticmaterial. References made herein to along the strap indicate that anobject considered to be between two other objects “along the strap” isin between when viewed by their positions coupled to the strap. Theobject does not necessarily have to simply be physically in between thetwo other objects. The rapid sizing adjuster 106 is adjustable by theuser 14 while wearing the sling 10 to quickly establish a desired lengthof the strap 28 in a single motion, while the sling 10 is coupling therifle 18 to the user 14.

During adjustment, a quick adjust buckle 108, shown in FIG. 9 andincluded as part of the rapid sizing adjuster 106, is slid along aportion of the strap segment 28 c. Strap segment 28 c is coupled tostrap segment 28 b using a loop lock 110 or other suitable coupling. Aportion 112 (shown in FIG. 1 and as hidden lines in FIG. 9) of strapsegment 28 c pulled through the loop lock 110, extends through anaperture 116 (FIG. 9) formed in the quick adjust buckle 108 to be foldedback onto itself and sewn in place, thereby coupling the end of theportion 112 to the quick adjust buckle 108. The other end of the portion112 leading toward the snap hook 26 or other form of second connectoralong the strap segment 28 c extends through the loop lock 110, extendsupwardly through aperture 114 and back down through aperture 116, fromwhere it continues on to the snap hook 26 and optional additional weaponconnector 22. Each aperture 114, 116 can be any suitable size to permitthe quick adjust buckle 108 to be slid along the strap segment 28 c.According to an illustrative embodiment, each of the apertures 114, 116is at least one half (½ in.) of an inch in a dimension X. Additionalapertures 118 can optionally be formed in the quick adjust buckle 108 tominimize the weight of the quick adjust buckle 108 and, accordingly, theoverall weight of the sling 10.

Ends 120 of a handle 122 (FIGS. 1 and 10) formed from a flexiblematerial such as the strap material, for example, can extend throughapertures 124 formed in the quick adjust buckle 108 to couple the handle122 to the quick adjust buckle 108. The handle can optionally include aplurality of passes of the strap material to provide the handle 122 witha sufficient degree of rigidity to substantially maintain an unbiasedshape of the handle 122, positioning a portion of the handle at leastone (1 in.) from the quick adjust buckle 108. When viewed on end as inFIG. 10, the Y dimension separating the underside of the handle 122 fromthe surface of the quick adjust buckle 108, the Y dimension being normalto the surface of the quick adjust buckle 108, is at least one (1 in.)inch according to one embodiment, or at least one and one half (1½ in.)inches according to another embodiment, or at least two (2 in.) inchesaccording to another embodiment. Suitably sized, the handle 122 can begrasped with a single hand by the user 14 while wearing the sling 10coupled to the rifle 18, even while wearing gloves, to adjust, in asingle motion, the length of the strap segment 28 c and, accordingly,the length of the strap 28.

The snap hook 26 will be considered to be the second connector for thefollowing example, but as mentioned above, the second connector is notso limited. As the quick adjust buckle 108 is slid along the strapsegment 28 c toward the snap hook 26 to shorten distance separating theloop lock 110 and the snap hook 26, the portion 112 of the strap segment28 c between the quick adjust buckle 108 and look lock 110 islengthened, and the other portion of the strap segment 28 c separatingthe snap hook 26 and the loop lock 110 is shortened, thereby shorteningthe length of the strap 28. Despite shortening the distance between thesnap hook 26 and loop lock 110, however, the excess strap material istaken up as the portion 112 that is coupled to the quick adjust buckle108. Thus, even when the strap segment 28 c is shortened, a free end ofthe strap segment 28 c is not left to hang freely, posing a threat toget tangled in the rifle 18 or other gear worn by the user 14.

Adjusting the quick adjust buckle 108 in the other direction along thestrap segment 28 c, the distance between the loop lock 110 and the snaphook 26 approaches its smallest dimension as the length of the portion112 of the strap segment 28 c pulled through the loop lock 110approaches the length of the portion of the strap segment 28 c extendingbetween the loop lock 110 and the snap hook 26. If the snap hook 26defines a limit of the distance the quick adjust buckle 108 can bepulled in this direction along the strap segment 28 c, then the shortestdistance along the strap segment 28 c between the loop lock 110 and thesnap hook 26 occurs when the portion 112 of the strap segment 28 c isapproximately equal in length to the portion of the strap segment 28 cseparating the loop lock 110 from the snap hook 26. In contrast, thelength of the portion of the strap segment 28 c extending between theloop lock 110 and the snap hook 26 approaches its greatest length as thelength of the portion 112 of the strap segment 28 c pulled through theloop lock 110 approaches its shortest length.

According to embodiments of the invention, a plurality of, or all of theconnectors provided to the sling 10, including but not limited to theweapon connector 16; second weapon connector 22; snap hook 26 or othersecond connector; connectors 36, 38; slide lock connector 50; firstconnector 54; coupler 56, loop lock 110, and quick adjust buckle 108,can be formed from a metal, metal alloy, or similarly durable material.

Illustrative embodiments have been described, hereinabove. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the above devices and methodsmay incorporate changes and modifications without departing from thegeneral scope of this invention. It is intended to include all suchmodifications and alterations within the scope of the present invention.Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in eitherthe detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to beinclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising”is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sling for coupling a weapon to a user of theweapon, the sling comprising: a strap having a length suitable to extendaround at least a portion of the user when the sling couples the weaponto the user; a weapon connector that cooperates with a fastening featureprovided to the weapon to releasably couple the weapon to the strap; afirst connector coupled to the strap; a second connector coupled to adifferent portion of the strap and separated from the first connectoralong the sling by at least a portion of the strap, wherein the firstand second connectors cooperate to establish a connection and form aloop that extends about a portion of the user of the weapon; and a rapidsizing adjuster coupled to the strap, the rapid sizing adjuster beingadjustable by the user of the weapon to quickly establish a desiredlength of the sling in a single motion while the sling is coupling theweapon to the user.